Egg-shaped body of red cedarwood



May 6,1941; c. E. STORCK 2,241,167

EGG-SHAPED BODY 0? RED CEDARWOOD Filed Oct. 11, 1939 Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG-SHAPED BODY OF RED cnmmwoon I Clarence Edward Storck, Baltimore, Md.

, Application October 11, 1939, Serial No 299,021

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a moth repellent device for the protection of clothing or fabrics stored in chests, closets, or under any other conditions in which they are likely to be ravaged by moths.

Oneof the objects of the invention is to provide an ovoid block of wood turned so that the grain extends in a direction substantially parallel to the long axis of the oval, whereby the capillary channels between the fibers of the wood terminate or open at the ends of the oval, the channels being adapted to be charged in a capillary manner with a suitable volatile moth repellent fluid, the shape of the block being such that it will never rest endwise upon the fabric upon which it may be placed, and consequently, there will not be any capillary withdrawal of the fluid from said channels into the fabric, which might cause untimely depletion of the moth repellent fiuid, and result in staining of the fabric.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an ovoid wooden block constructed in the manner above described, in which the charged channels are confined to the compass of a polar cap of less diameter than the maximum transverse diameter of the block, so that there will be an uncharged zone of channels adjacent the point of contact of the block with the fabric or other surface upon which it may be supported. A further object of the invention is to make the block of red cedarwood which has a natural moth repellent odor so that for some time after the purchase of the device it will not be necessary to impregnate the same.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of the following specification, and throughout the several figures of which the same characters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a moth repellent device embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal axial section through the same;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation illustrating how the device may be charged or impregnated with insectifuge in a zone which is less than the maximum transverse diameter of the block.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the numeral I represents the ovoid body which in the present contemplation of the invention is an egg-shaped block of red cedarwood, so turned on a lathe, or otherwise constructed, that the grain extends parallel to the long axis of the egg, as indicated at 2 in Figure 2.

When this egg-shaped device is first made, and for some time thereafter, it does not need to be impregnated with the insectifuge, for the red cedar has a natural odor, repellent towards moths, so that clothing may be preserved from their attacks by placing several of these eggs in a chest with the clothing, or in the pockets of clothing hanging in a closet.

Inasmuch as the natural odor of red cedarwood disappears after a time, it may be necessary to restore to the wooden egg its moth repellent properties.

It is, of course, well-known that wood will absorb liquid through the exposed ends of the grain by capillarity through the minute parallel channels which lie between the wood fibers and which define the grain. Consequently, the egg may be supported in an endwise position in a suitable dish or receptacle containing the moth repellent liquid with the end of the egg immersed in said liquid, and in a few hours the said channels will have become impregnated by the liquid. The egg can then be wiped off and is again ready for use.

It is a fact that if the egg thus charged with the volatile liquid insectifuge were placed endwise against a piece of cloth, a capillary condition would thus be established between the end of the egg and the cloth so that the liquid would be withdrawn from the channels, wick-like by the cloth, resulting in untimely depletion of the liquid and also possibly in staining of the cloth. However, the ovoid shape of the wooden egg prevents such an eventuality, for the egg will not rest upon its ends and will therefore keep the ends out of contact with the fabric.

In order to ensure that the fabric will not touch any of the charged channels even though the egg sinks by its weight somewhat into said channels, it is preferred not to charge or impregnate those channels which open immediately adjacent the largest transverse circumference of the egg, and which circumference represents the region upon which it rests when in free repose. The impregnation is therefore confined to the channels encompassed by a polar cap which is less in diameter than the maximum transverse diameter of the egg. The circumference representing the base of this polar cap is indicated at 3 in Figure 2.

Impregnation of the egg is confined to a de termined area of channels by resting it endwise in a vessel 4, the vessel being of such diameter as to support the egg in endwise position and the level of liquid 5 in which the egg is immersed is such that it will not come up to the level of the greatest transverse cross-section of the egg. Thus, the point of contact of the egg with the fabric is spaced from the region of impregnation by an annular sheath 6 of unimpregnated channels and the point of contact of the egg with the fabric is kept remote from the region of impregnation.

By virtue of the manner in which the egg is turned it displays an ornamental grained surface and thus becomes an ornament to a bureau drawer in which it may be placed.

Prior to the time when thenecessity for impregnating the egg arises it may have many uses, all of which are within the purview of the invention. It makes a convenient and ornamental adjunct of the sewing basket, for use in darning socks. It is useful as a plaything; may be spun on its long axis as a top, or used as a teething device for the baby. Either in its unimpregnated or impregnated state it can be used as a nest-egg, serving also the function of repelling vermin.

While I have in the above disclosure described what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of my invention, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the specific ,WOOdBIl block having the grain running parallel to the long axis of the block, the channels between the wood fibers within limited end areas being adapted to be impregnated through capillarity with a volatile moth repellent liquid, by immersion of an end only of the ovoid block therein, the shape of the block preventing it resting upon its ends when in free repose position whereby both end areas constitute evaporation areas for said volatile fluid.

2. Moth repellent device comprising an eggshaped wooden block having the grain running parallel to the'long axis, a limited number of channels between the wood fibers being adapted to be impregnated through capillarity, with a moth repellent fluid, the ovoid shape of the block preventing it resting upon its ends when in free repose position, the impregnation being confined to those channels encompassed by a polar cap at each end of the long axis having a diameter less than the largest transverse diameter of the block, whereby said channels constitute the containers for the volatile fluid and said polar cap "areas including the ends of said channels constitute the region of impregnation and evaporation,

'3. A moth repellent device comprising an ovoidal shaped member having a plurality of capillary channels extending substantially parallel with its long axis from end to end adapted to be: filled by capillary attraction with a moth repellent fluid, the ends of said channels embraced-within areas'defined by polar caps at the ends of said long axis of less diameter than the greatest diameter of the device.

CLARENCE EDWARD STORCK. 

